"DERRY MATTHEWS is a quality boxer on a fast track towards a domestic title shot."

"DERRY MATTHEWS is a quality boxer on a fast track towards a domestic title shot."

That is the verdict of Britain's leading fight promoter Frank Warren 48 hours before the young Merseysider's sixth professional contest at Everton Park Sports Centre on Thursday night.

The big-punching city bantam-weight shares top billing in his home town as Warren's impressive 'Fight Skool' stable arrives on Merseyside with a quality 11-fight bill.

Along with fellow Scousers Paul Smith, Carl Wall and Mark Moran, 'The Golden Boy' has helped sell out the show with Liverpool fight fans once again eager to keep track of the city's newest stars of the ring.

Matthews, a Junior Olympic gold medalist in his amateur days, remains undefeated in the paid ring following his debut in January. He has stopped four of of his five opponents to date, and it is causing the rest of the domestic division to sit up and take notice.

The 21-year-old exploded onto the scene by stopping one-time Peter Culshaw opponent Sergei Tasimov inside three minutes. Only Sri Lankan Jus Wallie has managed to survive four rounds with the former Salisbury ABC starlet.

"I knew I was punching harder than everyone else around me in the ABA finals last year," revealed Matthews, who won the national senior crown in his debut season.

"My power was putting them over even then, but since I've joined up with my new trainer George (Schofield) I am planting my feet even more and banging even harder.

"I try not to go looking for the knockout. In my last fight, at Everton Park in August, I went looking for it and I wasn't too happy with my performance."

This despite retiring Irishman Marty Kayes after two rounds.

"This time boxing fans will see a more mature and clinical Derry Matthews," he added.

With ambitions to get amongst the domestic champions inside 12 months, Matthews has to step up his level of opponent and faces a tough assignment on Thursday.

Belarus bantamweight Alexey Volchan has a good amateur pedigree and although he is coming off a close points defeat to Leeds prospect Danny Wallace, he has never been on the canvas in his paid career.

Matthews said: "It's a good step up for me. Volchan is a tough kid I am told - he'll be coming to win. But I have big expectations for myself.

"After this fight I want to step up to six rounds. Then maybe an eight-rounder before Christmas, that what qualify me to go for a 10-round title fight, like an English or Central Area belt.

"At this point, though, I need rounds under my belt. I've had some terrific sparring recently with former England number one Stephen Bell up in Manchester and with my old amateur mate Danny Angus, but nothing beats competitive rounds.

"I feel confident to step up a level now. The better the opponent, the better my performance will be, I'm sure of that."

Cleethorpes super-middleweight Mike Duffield has been confirmed as light-middle Paul Smith's latest opponent, as the city's Commonwealth Games medallist once again has to give away weight.